Description and purpose
The project investigates the viability of electric machines equipped with superconductors, integrated with power electronics converters, and monitored by diagnostic techniques while operated at cryogenic temperatures to increase their specific torque, power density, and efficiency. These technologies allow to push the specific power of electric drives over 10 kW/kg, as required by challenging applications, such as offshore generators or electric propulsion systems for aircraft and ships.
Purpose
Exploration of the practicability of electric machines equipped with superconductors and experimental corroboration of the achievable performance in terms of efficiency and specific power compared to conventional air-cooled machines operated at room temperature; experimental investigation of the operability of different power electronic components and modules at cryogenic temperatures and extension of conventional simulation models to account for cryogenic temperature operation.
Expected results
Definition of power converter architectures and control strategies to limit the number of required passive components; extension of simulation models for power electronic components to include their behavior at very low temperatures; development of diagnostic techniques specifically developed for superconducting electric machines and cryogenic power electronics.
Achieved results
Literature survey about cryogenic power electronics and motor drives; tests of power electronic components and boards under cryogenic conditions; determination of optimal components for cryogenic-ready power converters.
